Stuck in a rut with a career seemingly going nowhere? If you’re on the lookout for change and love the idea of working abroad, why not think about teaching English as a foreign language?

We might just have the answer for you. At The TEFL Academy, we run regular TEFL courses in Plymouth that can be the stepping stone to your new future. Our Combined Level 5 TEFL Course (168 hours) is split up between 20 hours with our friendly and qualified TEFL trainers at the Jurys Inn Hotel in Plymouth and the remaining hours are done in the comfort of your own home. Just one weekend is needed from you in person while the rest of the course can be done online in your spare time.

During the 20-hour TEFL course with us in Plymouth, you’ll learn everything from how to plan lessons to what needs to be included within them, and finally, how to deliver them. You will quickly get a real glimpse into what your life will be like when teaching English as a foreign language.

As for the online part of the course, you can take as long as you like (up to six months) to get through the 148 hours required. It could actually be done in a few weeks if you had the time, but generally students average around four to six weeks. Your online studies will go into more detail with regards to the theory of TEFL and will cover more technical aspects such as grammar and vocabulary.

We are the world's only TEFL course provider that has received official recognition from government regulated awarding bodies both in the US and the U.K. Our Level 5 TEFL Course is DEAC-approved as meeting the criteria for Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC) status. The DEAC is a U.S. Department of Education recognised awarding body. Our course is regulated by Ofqual (UK government) and awarded by Qualifi, a UK government recognised awarding body.

Upon completion of the TEFL course, a Level 5 TEFL Certificate (168 hours) will be deservedly awarded to you in recognition of your success. It will be the official recognition of you now being qualified to begin your career as an EFL teacher. Regulated by Ofqual (UK Government), this certificate is also approved as the same level as the CELTA/Trinity CertTESOL Qualifications. With that certificate now in hand, you can go to our TEFL Jobs Board and start applying for positions around the world. We also offer you the opportunity to specialise in your chosen field of teaching English. All enrolments on our level 5 course include a free top-up course in Teaching Young Learners, Teaching Business English or Teaching Online & 1:1. You will be provided with a unique discount code with your booking confirmation email which can be redeemed against your chosen course.

Can you imagine yourself travelling the world and earning good money at the same time? Then what are you waiting for? Place a £50 deposit to get a reservation for one of our TEFL courses in Plymouth today! Deposits are only accepted for courses more than 2 weeks away, your online course will be available as soon as you have paid the balance in full.

Online Course (Instant access on enrolment)

The online course consists of ten mandatory units. All ten units are exam-assessed and for units 5, 7 and 10 there are also coursework-assessed assignments. You get 6-months access to the course, but some students complete their qualification within 4 - 6 weeks (when studied full time).

Using Resources Effectively when Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Case Study, CV and Cover Letter, Job Sites and Resources

Course options explained

With so much choice and such a vast amount of conflicting information available on the Internet it can be difficult for potential TEFL course students to make the correct choice. The minimum standard for most entry-level teaching positions is a 120-Hour TEFL Certificate, however to ensure our students can access the best global opportunities our course leads to a Level 5 TEFL Certificate (168 hours), which is regulated by Ofqual (UK government).

Our course has been approved by Ofqual as the same level as the CELTA & Trinity Cert TESOL qualifications. This means our course is the most internationally recognised, accessible and affordable, TEFL qualification available in the UK.

You will see many courses available that are shorter than 120-hours, these options are TEFL taster courses and will not be accepted by most employers.

Career opportunities

With 1.5 billion people wanting to learn English right now the career opportunities are endless! Once you have completed the course you will be qualified to teach English internationally including in the UK.

Debbie Hooper, TEFL Trainer

Debbie has been working in TEFL since 1993, both abroad and in the UK.

She started out as a teacher in Salzburg, Austria in private language schools and at university. Wanting to get in to teacher training, she moved to Auckland, New Zealand in 2002 where she trained and worked as a teacher trainer. She has led a couple of volunteer teams to China and trained Chinese English teachers. Debbie loves the challenge and variety that TEFL provides and claims that teaching, is unlike other jobs, if you're bored, then it's your fault! Over the years, she has been to Australia, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Siberia (twice for work) and much of Western and Eastern Europe and says she is always amazed at the number of different people you have the opportunity to meet and the ongoing chances for travel.

Stuck in a rut with a career seemingly going nowhere? If you’re on the lookout for change and love the idea of working abroad, why not think about teaching English as a foreign language?

We might just have the answer for you. At The TEFL Academy, we run regular TEFL courses in Plymouth that can be the stepping stone to your new future. Our Combined Level 5 TEFL Course (168 hours) is split up between 20 hours with our friendly and qualified TEFL trainers at the Jurys Inn Hotel in Plymouth and the remaining hours are done in the comfort of your own home. Just one weekend is needed from you in person while the rest of the course can be done online in your spare time.

During the 20-hour TEFL course with us in Plymouth, you’ll learn everything from how to plan lessons to what needs to be included within them, and finally, how to deliver them. You will quickly get a real glimpse into what your life will be like when teaching English as a foreign language.

As for the online part of the course, you can take as long as you like (up to six months) to get through the 148 hours required. It could actually be done in a few weeks if you had the time, but generally students average around four to six weeks. Your online studies will go into more detail with regards to the theory of TEFL and will cover more technical aspects such as grammar and vocabulary.

We are the world's only TEFL course provider that has received official recognition from government regulated awarding bodies both in the US and the U.K. Our Level 5 TEFL Course is DEAC-approved as meeting the criteria for Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC) status. The DEAC is a U.S. Department of Education recognised awarding body. Our course is regulated by Ofqual (UK government) and awarded by Qualifi, a UK government recognised awarding body.

Upon completion of the TEFL course, a Level 5 TEFL Certificate (168 hours) will be deservedly awarded to you in recognition of your success. It will be the official recognition of you now being qualified to begin your career as an EFL teacher. Regulated by Ofqual (UK Government), this certificate is also approved as the same level as the CELTA/Trinity CertTESOL Qualifications. With that certificate now in hand, you can go to our TEFL Jobs Board and start applying for positions around the world. We also offer you the opportunity to specialise in your chosen field of teaching English. All enrolments on our level 5 course include a free top-up course in Teaching Young Learners, Teaching Business English or Teaching Online & 1:1. You will be provided with a unique discount code with your booking confirmation email which can be redeemed against your chosen course.

Can you imagine yourself travelling the world and earning good money at the same time? Then what are you waiting for? Place a £50 deposit to get a reservation for one of our TEFL courses in Plymouth today! Deposits are only accepted for courses more than 2 weeks away, your online course will be available as soon as you have paid the balance in full.

Day 2 (9 a.m. - 7 p.m.)

Online Course (Instant access on enrolment)

The online course consists of ten mandatory units. All ten units are exam-assessed and for units 5, 7 and 10 there are also coursework-assessed assignments. You get 6-months access to the course, but some students complete their qualification within 4 - 6 weeks (when studied full time).

Course options explained

With so much choice and such a vast amount of conflicting information available on the Internet it can be difficult for potential TEFL course students to make the correct choice. The minimum standard for most entry-level teaching positions is a 120-Hour TEFL Certificate, however to ensure our students can access the best global opportunities our course leads to a Level 5 TEFL Certificate (168 hours), which is regulated by Ofqual (UK government).

Our course has been approved by Ofqual as the same level as the CELTA & Trinity Cert TESOL qualifications. This means our course is the most internationally recognised, accessible and affordable, TEFL qualification available in the UK.

You will see many courses available that are shorter than 120-hours, these options are TEFL taster courses and will not be accepted by most employers.

Career opportunities

With 1.5 billion people wanting to learn English right now the career opportunities are endless! Once you have completed the course you will be qualified to teach English internationally including in the UK.

Debbie Hooper, TEFL Trainer

Debbie has been working in TEFL since 1993, both abroad and in the UK.

She started out as a teacher in Salzburg, Austria in private language schools and at university. Wanting to get in to teacher training, she moved to Auckland, New Zealand in 2002 where she trained and worked as a teacher trainer. She has led a couple of volunteer teams to China and trained Chinese English teachers. Debbie loves the challenge and variety that TEFL provides and claims that teaching, is unlike other jobs, if you're bored, then it's your fault! Over the years, she has been to Australia, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Siberia (twice for work) and much of Western and Eastern Europe and says she is always amazed at the number of different people you have the opportunity to meet and the ongoing chances for travel.

Accreditation FAQ

Is the course accredited?

Our Level 5 TEFL Course is DEAC-approved as meeting the criteria for Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC) status. The DEAC is a U.S. Department of Education recognised awarding body. Our course is regulated by Ofqual (UK government department) and awarded by Qualifi, a UK government recognised awarding body.

Who are Qualifi?

The TEFL Academy is fully accredited by Qualifi an Ofqual (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, a UK government department) regulated awarding body. Qualifi have robust quality assurance systems and procedures in place which all course providers must successfully pass in order to be accredited under the scheme.

Potential TEFL course students should remember that their prospective employers are likely to be based outside the UK. This means that accreditation bodies based solely in the UK may not be recognised by employers abroad. This is why The TEFL Academy has chosen Qualifi, as they offer international accreditation for training course providers.

Who are Ofqual?

The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.

Ofqual is a non-ministerial UK government department.

You can verify our qualification on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications here.

Ofqual recognise Awarding Organisations like Qualifi and regulate qualifications like ours. An Ofqual regulated TEFL qualification will be recognised worldwide and is highly respected by employers.

Who are the DEAC?

The Distance Education Accrediting Commission was founded in 1926 and is a U.S. Department of Education recognised awarding body. DEAC's goal is to ensure a high standard of educational quality in the distance education institutions it approves by requiring compliance with its published standards, policies and procedures.

What is a Level 5 qualification?

A regulated level 5 qualification means that Ofqual (UK government), have approved the qualification to be an equal level of achievement to other qualifications at the same level. Our Level 5 TEFL Certificate (168hrs) is equal to the following qualifications: a diploma of higher education (DipHE), a foundation degree, 2 years at university and the CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL qualifications.

What does "regulated" mean?

A regulated qualification means that it is officially recognised by government and sits on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications. You can view our qualification on the Ofqual register here.

What benefits does studying a regulated qualification offer learners?

Choosing to study a regulated qualification is your guarantee of quality. Course providers offering regulated qualifications must comply with very tough quality assurance rules and procedures. This ensures that:

The staff delivering and assisting students are suitably qualified

The course provider has the resources to effectively deliver the qualification

The course itself effectively teaches and assesses the qualifications aims

The contents of the course have been written and designed by industry professionals and peer reviewed

The feedback and grades given to learners is fair, moderated and meets modern academic standards

Officially regulated by the UK government, therefore the qualification will be internationally recognised by schools, employers, foreign embassies and governments of most other countries.

How do I know if a qualification is regulated?

Any qualification that is officially recognised by the UK government will sit on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications. Make sure to ask your course provider to provide a link to the register for their qualification.

You can view our qualification on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications here.

What's the difference between TEFL and TESOL?

TEFL and TESOL are both acronyms for teaching English to non-native English speakers. Both acronyms can be used to describe qualifications which certify you to teach English as a foreign language. To a large extent, "TEFL" and "TESOL" are used interchangeably.

TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language

TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Are cheap TEFL courses on daily deal websites like Groupon and Amazon too good to be true?

Offering a high quality TEFL course that provides students with qualified tutors and leads to a government regulated qualification doesn't come cheap! Course providers selling on daily deal websites must heavily discount their course fees and then split what they make 50/50 with the deal portal such as Groupon, Wowcher & Amazon.

With such small revenues it’s impossible for TEFL course providers selling on daily deal websites to:

Offer on-going support from experienced & qualified tutors

Have fair & moderated marking/grading systems

Develop and continually update quality course content & resources

Offer a course that leads to a government regulated qualification

Offer job support and on-going assistance after course completion

TEFL courses sold on daily deal websites are unregulated, unaccredited, lack academic credibility and will not be respected by employers.

Is a level 5 course always a level 5 course?

You may see cheap TEFL courses advertised online that claim to be a “level”, such as “Level 5 140-Hour TEFL Course” (often advertised on daily deal websites), unfortunately these courses are not the level they claim to be and are highly misleading.

The level of a course tells learners where the qualification sits on the UK’s Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). If a course is not listed on the Register of Regulated Qualifications, then it is not really a level at all. You can find our qualification on the register here.

Make sure you ask any TEFL training provider that claims to be offering a “level” of TEFL course to provide a link to the Register of Regulated Qualifications. If they cannot provide this, then the qualification is not the level they claim it to be and will not be accepted by foreign embassies and employers.

Your TEFL journey starts here! Fancy teaching English as a foreign language around the world?

Great! You’re in the right place. The TEFL Academy provides the very best in accredited TEFL courses, meaning your qualification is recognised throughout the world . The TEFL Academy is the world's leading TEFL course provider. We can help you acquire the skills needed to teach English as a foreign language, whether it be through our specialist online TEFL course or our combined TEFL course. Unsure which is the best TEFL option for you? See our TEFL courses compared page for an instant breakdown of course specifics.

Graduate Testimonials

Read Testimonials from our Graduates

Charlie

A. Ioana, the lady who taught the classes was so inspiring! I was left wanting more lessons with her, and wanting to learn more too!

Q. How satisfied were you with your TEFL Tutor?

A. Ioana was incredible! You could tell she had been doing this for a while but still had passion in her soul! She really inspired me to do well and become as good as her. She had answers to all questions, big or small. and no one could have done a better job. She is lovely!

Rating

Saul Scarry

Q. How satisfied were you with the classroom element of the course?

A. The tutor, Iona. I had a few concerns as this was the first time I've done something like this and Iona was just fantastic. A very good, informative and gun course. Nerves gone, concerns gone and now I'm just very very excited to begin the TEFL life. I felt the course was very well laid out from start to finish. The venue was very good and all round just fantastic. Thank you so so much!

Q. How satisfied were you with your TEFL tutor?

A. As previously stated. She was very good, great knowledge and very enthusiastic on top of what I said before.

Rating

Christopher Perry

Q. How satisfied were you with the classroom element of the course?

A. The teaching was clear and well managed, covered a lot and gave us an insight into classroom aesthetics.

Q. How satisfied were you with your TEFL tutor?

A. She was polite and understanding, I could see the passion she had for teaching and the experience she has

Rating

Catherine Billing

Q. How satisfied were you with the classroom element of the course?

A. I found the face to face element with a TEFL experience teacher answered a lot of the questions at the back of my mind. The foreign language lesson we had to participate in as students was particularly eye opening as it helped to understand how we can still communicate with students with whom we potentially share no language at all. It was also valuable to meet other students and hear their plans and concerns. It has consolidated and enhanced everything I've learned so far.

Q. How satisfied were you with your TEFL Tutor?

A. She was friendly and approachable and kept us moving through the course smoothly.

Rating

James Harvey

Q. How satisfied were you with the classroom element of the course?

A. It was a lovely weekend, really relaxed and friendly. A lot of information was put across and I certainly learned a lot over the weekend, it was nice to have such an open environment and relaxed atmosphere in the conference suit rather than in a plain classroom.

Q. How satisfied were you with your TEFL Tutor?

A. Lovely lady with a lot of experience and different methods of teaching which covered all the different learning types.

Rating

Katie Fremlin

Q. How satisfied were you with the classroom element of the course?

A. I thought the intensive 2 days were fantastic! I feel I have learnt so much and am reassured that this is definitely the course for me and the career I wish to pursue. The teacher Iona was excellent and ensured everyone in the group was actively involved.

Q. How satisfied were you with your TEFL Tutor?

A. I thought the intensive 2 days were fantastic! I feel I have learnt so much and am reassured that this is definitely the course for me and the career I wish to pursue. The teacher Iona was excellent and ensured everyone in the group was actively involved.

Rating

Claire Williams

Q. How satisfied were you with the classroom element of the course?

A. I loved the course and enjoyed the knowledge and enthusiasm, as well as the experience which Iona brought to the 20 hours. I feel thoroughly motivated to complete the 100 hours so that I can embark on my own TEFL career.

Q. How satisfied were you with your TEFL Tutor?

A. Iona was fantastic. Well presented and well engaging with other students. Very knowledgeable with a wealth of experience

Rating

Paul Barnes

Q. How satisfied were you with your TEFL Tutor?

A. She was very pleasant and made the course enjoyable. She was patient and set standards which she kept to. She was very helpful in her comments following my two presentations.

Q. How satisfied were you with the classroom element of the course?

A. It met my expectations and ran very smoothly with undue pressure.

Rating

Julie Butterworth

Q. How satisfied were you with the classroom element of the course?

A. Excellent tutor in Iona, small class size, good interactive modules and good venue. We had very good support throughout the weekend, with Iona sharing her knowledge and experience in a very positive manner. The needs of the students were taken into account and Iona provided support in the form of useful websites, literature etc.

Q. How satisfied were you with your TEFL Tutor?

A. Very experienced and knowledgeable tutor who tailored the subjects to our class size, individual needs and expectations.

Rating

Emma Farrell

Q. How satisfied were you with your TEFL Tutor?

A. Iona made the course fun. She was very knowledgeable and had a range of experience she was able to share with us. She had a clear structure to her teaching and her good use of preparation ensured the course material and instruction was clear and easy to follow.

Q. How satisfied were you with the classroom element of the course?

A. It was a very enjoyable and valuable experience. It proved to be a very useful and support system in order to start my training. Having face to face contact allowed for questions to be answered an practice with like minded people. I learnt a lot from Iona and her teaching methods. It was also great to talk about job opportunities and how to apply for them.

In regards to Think Talent, we are an information consulting company which is focused on introducing ESL teachers to schools all around China as well as help teachers explore Chinese culture outside the walls of the classroom.

EF English First is the world's leading privately owned education company. We have vacancies for teaching positions in both Kids & Teens schools and Adult schools across China so if you prefer the fast paced city life like Shanghai, or want to be immersed in the more traditional